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‘Hero’ couple honored as parade Grand Marshal

Wednesday, 03 July 2013 11:41

Gene and Bobbe Madson say they have enjoyed Clear Lake’s biggest and best Fourth of July celebration for 45-years. This year, they will experience a key piece of the holiday festivities in an entirely new way-- as Grand Marshals of the parade.

The theme for this year’s parade is “Hometown Heroes” and that’s a perfect description of the Madsons. The couple has volunteered their time and talents generously in an effort to make the community they love even better.

“Clear Lake is the greatest place I’ve ever lived and we like to give back,” said Gene.

As manager of Wilcox Furniture, Gene has been active in Clear Lake Area Chamber of Commerce and has served on a variety of committees working to promote the community in a number of ways. Beyond that, he and Bobbe have also spearheaded projects which are near and dear to their hearts, including the attractive welcome at the Main Street entrance to the downtown business district. They also had a hand in landscaping the ‘Y’ at South Shore Drive and South Lakeview Drive and see that Santa’s winter home in City Park is always ready.

Gene, who served three years with the U.S. Marine Corps in Vietnam, also led an effort to improve a little-known local tribute to the community’s only soldier killed in action during the Vietnam Conflict and honors all veterans who served in that war. Madson took a plan to the City Council which replaced the existing 35-foot flag pole and three-by-five-foot American flag with a new 50-foot aluminum flag pole and 10x15 foot flag. The project also included resurfacing the concrete flag pole base with black granite. Madson also worked to create a tribute to veterans at Veterans Memorial Golf Course.